The Northern Cape Diamonds managed to move up two positions during this year’s Telkom Netball League (TNL).
Starting the tournament in position nine of division 2, the Diamonds climbed to position seven.
Team manager Pulane Mokoena says the Diamonds have really proven themselves.
“There is a huge improvement in their performance,” Mokoena says, commenting that even the margins of the scores of the matches they lost, became smaller.
Defeat does not stop them from giving their best, made evident by the Diamonds receiving five player of the match awards.
In their final match of the TNL’s power week 3 on Friday, 18 July, the Diamonds beat the Limpopo Lilies with 51 − 34, while Andiswa Dlamini, goal attack, claimed her second player of the match award. Dlamini received her first award on 2 May when the Diamonds had their first win of 51 − 47 against the Free State Sonoblomo.
On 16 July, Diamonds’ Amnkelekile Malambile, wing attack and centre, also bagged a player of the match award when her team beat the Limpopo Lilies by 46 − 35.
On 17 June, during the Diamonds’ second victory, of 43 − 37 against the Eastern Cape Comets, Asive Ntsendwana, goal defence, was announced player of the match.
On 28 April, centre Senestie Ponie had been the first of the Diamonds to grab a player of the match award for the TNL season.
The TNL commenced on 26 April at the Sun City Superbowl in the North West, and concluded on 20 July at the Durban International Centre Complex.
The league was determined over three power weeks.
